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Anthony Foster

Algodon Wine Estates, Senior Wine Advisor

Anthony Foster has been in the wine trade for over thirty-eight years. In 1974, he became a Master of Wine, passing the most arduous four day tasting and theoretical qualification in the industry. In 1987 he was Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and was largely responsible for making the qualification international.

He founded his own company, Bonhote Foster Limited, in 1975, and was bought out in 1981 by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. He was subsequently made managing director of Christopher and Company, Royal Warrant holders. In 1986 Antinori in Florence sought him out and hired him to become managing director of their UK arm, Belloni. After Antinori sold their interest in Belloni in the early nineties, Mr. Foster continued to act as a consultant for various bodies on fruit selection and wine making techniques, as well as wine marketing in the UK and US. Amongst other projects, he researched and advised a number of Slovenian wine producers on how to market their wines in Europe. He created a Burgundy importing company in the US - Foster Flynt Selections - with DC Flynt MW. In 1998, Mr. Foster purchased Bonhote Foster Limited back from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. In recent years, he has spent considerable time working with various wine investment groups.

Mr. Foster is an acknowledged wine taster. He judges around the world, most notably France, Italy, Australia and the UK. In France he has participated in a number of "Tastevinage" panels and in Italy he has been a frequent judge at the Banco d'Assagio in Perugia. In Australia he is one of a handful of international judges and he is frequently invited to judge in both Canberra and Hobart. In the UK, Anthony chairs a number of tasting panels for both the Wine Challenge and the Wine and Spirit Competition.